Secondary reconstruction of the orbit and conjunctival sac – a case report

P. Drozdowski¹, A. Jaworski², Ł. Łątkowski¹, A. Burkacka¹, W. Lisovski¹, M. Handziak¹, K. Kott¹, K. Mildner¹, K. Brzuszkiewicz¹, A. Drozdowska³, I. Łątkowski¹

1 Department of Plastic Surgery, Specialistic Medical Centre, Polanica-Zdrój, Poland

2 Department of Surgery for Child Developmental Defects and Traumatology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Poland

3 High Medical School in Klodzko, Kłodzko, Poland

Summary

The authors present a novel modification of vastus lateralis muscle free flap based orbital reconstruction in a 41-year-old patient, with a secondary defect to an injury with technical oil under high pressure. The patient underwent multiple reconstructive procedures in different medical centers with poor functional and esthetic results including simple local plasty techniques. The patient underwent simultaneous reconstruction of the soft tissues of the orbit, and conjunctival sac based on a prelaminated vastus lateralis free flap. The two-stage reconstruction of these structures is beneficial both for the patient’s psychical and mental condition and for health system finances. Therefore, whenever it’s possible, we should try to decrease the number of required procedures. The authors believe that their technique can significantly improve the quality of life of patients after exenteration but simultaneously they emphasize the need to carry out more procedures in order to refine it.

Key words

orbital reconstruction – vastus lateralis muscle free flap – exenteration – case report – microsurgery